Cottonwood Jam String Band to play market

Cottonwood Jam String Band of, from left, Spencer Cunningham, Renata Burgett, Tahree Lane, and Marti Clayton.

Three years ago the Cottonwood Jam String Band was scheduled to play at the Music at the Market but a storm canceled it.

Perrysburg's concert series that follows the Perrysburg Farmer's Market at 7 p.m. each Thursday on the Commodore Schoolyard will finally get to see the Cottonwood Jam String Band this week. Also, unlike last time when another event was scheduled in the auditorium, if it rains they will be able to play inside the Perrysburg Schools Administration Building.

"I was really disappointed because I had gone to hear them play at one of their gigs prior to booking them and they had really fun, foot-stomping great music," said concert coordinator Robin Ballmer. "I was super sick at the time and their music really invigorated me. It was the power music can have."

The traditional, old-time, Americana music band did play at a Harrison Rally Day five or six years ago Ms. Ballmer said.

The band consists of Spencer Cunningham singing, strumming and picking the banjo, Renata Burgett on the fiddle, Tahree Lane on bass and helping with vocals, and Marti Clayton playing the guitar and singing. Mr. Cunningham said they are known for traditional Americana, Appalachian folk music, acoustics, and sometimes Irish music.

"We do a lot of songs that people grew up with," he said. "We have a medley that has put some together like When the Saints Go Marching In, This Little Light of Mine, and [Boondocks]."

Mr. Cunningham also spoke very highly of the band's fiddler, Ms. Burgett. 

"She is a great fiddler," he said. "She studied in Ireland and has really learned old-time music and Appalachian music."

Contact Matt Thompson at: mthompson@theblade.com, 419-356-8786, or on Twitter at @mthompson25.